#ossetians

Aesthetic of the ethnies of the world ! Caucasian ethnies part 2 !

The Armenians are a indo-european people inhabitants of the region of Greater Armenia, and the country of Armenia. They speak armenian. They are christian. There are around 6 to 8 millions of them, with 2.9 millions in Armenia, 1 to 2.9 millions in Russia, and 1 million in the United States.

The Georgians are a kartvelian people inhabitants of the country of Georgia. They speak georgian and kartvelian languages. They are Eastern Orthodox christian. There are around 4 millions of them.

The Abkhazians are a northwest caucasian people inhabitants of the region of Abkhazia, officially in Georgia. They speak abkhaz, russian, georgian and turkish. They are Abkhazian eastern orthodox and Sunni muslim. There are 748 000 of them, with 600 000 in Turkey.

The Abazins are a northwest caucasian people inhabitants of the region of Abazinia, officially in Russia. They speak abaza, russian, turkish and arabic. They are Sunni muslim. There are around 150 000 of them.

The Lezgins are a northeast caucasian people inhabitants of the region of Lezgistan, officially in Russia and Azerbaijan. They speak lezgian. They are Sunni muslim. There are 1.2 millions of them.

The Ossetians are a indo-european people inhabitants of the region of South Ossetia and North Ossetia-Alania, officially in Russia. They speak ossetian, russian, georgian. They are Eastern Orthodox christian. There are around 600 000 of them.

The Lazs are a kartvelian people inhabitants of the region of Lazistan, officially in Turkey and Georgia. They speak laz, georgian and turkish. They are Sunni muslim for the Lazs in Turkey, and Georgian Orthodox for the Lazs in Georgia. There are around 150 000 to 1 million of them.

Young residents of Dzuarikau village performing a dance at a folklore concert. Republic of Northern Ossetia-Ala, Russia.

Photographed by Yakov Berliner.

The Ossetians: From nomads and warriors to the artists of the Caucasus

“A people that miraculously survived in the mountains after the Tatar-Mongolian invasions of the Middle Ages, today the Ossetians are renowned for being the creative intelligentsia of the Caucasus and the custodians of an unusual form of Christianity.

For Alik Pagayev, an Ossetian who manages a troupe at the Narty Theater in Vladikavkaz, creativity is in the blood of his people.

”I was born in a mountain village and we had this joke: 'Throw a balalaika out of your window, anyone who catches it can play it,” he says.

Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, a small republic on Russia’s southern edge bordering Georgia, is called the “Caucasian St. Petersburg.” No other city in the North Caucasus has so many creative people: artists, photographers, designers and performers.

Creative abilities, however, are not the only national trait of the Ossetians. Pagayev says that every Ossetian has military skills and talents for working with horses in their blood.

The Ossetians [claim descendants] from Iranian-speaking nomads – the Scythians and the Sarmatians. In historical writings from the 2nd century A.D. these tribes were known for their serious military and political might.

By the 11th century A.D. the medieval kingdom of Alania had been established in the region. Its inhabitants were famous for their military skills: The main army consisted of the cavalry. Despite their glorious reputation, the Alans could not fight off the Tatar-Mongolian invasion and in the 14th century they were practically destroyed as a people. Only few hundred Alans remained in the mountains. However, the nation managed to survive and later it successfully assimilated in Russia.

”The Caucasus started to become a part of Russia in the 18th century. Our republic was one of the first,” explains Anna Kabisova, a photographer and photojournalist.

”The Ossetians perceived these changes as a salvation since it is difficult to survive in the mountains and the intelligentsia understood that it was important to develop. A step towards Russia implied opportunity. Back then many Ossetians went to study in St. Petersburg. That is how this place acquired many artists, sculptors and then its own influential art school, its own distinguishing style,” she said.

In her view, such open-mindedness to new cultures is also a national trait. ”The reason lies in religion. The Ossetians are Christians. So it is easier for them, in comparison to the Muslim republics, to find common ground with the Russian population.”

Actually, the Christianity found in the republic is not entirely traditional. Pagan beliefs are also strong here. The Ossetians have dozens of popular religious celebrations with various rituals. There are symbolic peace sacrifices, for example, slaughtering a chicken or a sheep for guests at a feast.

The famous Ossetian national pies are sacred food. These round, thin pies with meat, cheese and potatoes in the Ossetian worldview represent the sun. During a holiday each family places three pies on the table. They also have local breweries.

For many occasions women brew beer according to the national recipe. The Ossetians have their own Oktoberfest. Each October Vladikavkaz holds an Ossetian beer festival/competition, to which Ossetians come from Russia and other countries. The drink, in its aspect and taste, is similar to kvas, the Russian malt drink, and is around 1.5-2 percent alcohol.

The beer is brewed in a large cauldron over a fire. Its main ingredients are the typical ones: hops, malt. But there are also special ones such as lamb ribs and sugar – there are many different recipes.

”Ask me what I hate doing most and I'll respond: trading,” says Alik Pagayev, describing the national character. "The Ossetians don't have an entrepreneurial spirit. We have many talented artists, good athletes, especially in freestyle wrestling, horse breeders, but commerce is really not our thing.”

Pagayev also says that tolerance and tact are two other national traits.

”I worked in [the neighboring republic of] Kabardino-Balkaria for three years and could not get used to the fact that they speak their national language. I would go to someone's house and they would speak their own language. I wouldn't understand anything and someone would have to translate the general meaning of the conversation.

”In Ossetia it's not like that. If there’s even one guest among us, we speak Russian. A friend of mine from Chechnya would often visit us and once he heard people speaking Ossetian on a street in Vladikavkaz. He was surprised because he had thought that we always speak Russian.”

In fact, Pagayev explains, there are some young people who do not even know their national language, which he says is sad.

”Our language must be preserved. At home my children speak only Ossetian. If I hear them speak Russian, I tell them, 'You'll speak Russian where you have to, but at home speak your native language,'” he says.

Another important national trait is learning, he explains: ”People always wonder: A young guy from a remote mountain village goes to study in St. Petersburg or Moscow and in two years he fully integrates, speaks Russian without an accent and produces good results in his studies. This is an important trait. I think this is what helped our people survive the difficult times.”